Refrigeration apparatus



1965 G. FARNELL ETAL 3,209,549

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1963 I o 0 I o l. o O O 'l 1 I4 lg 23 I 2| 0 o I 2| I I! I 2| al 0 lflio FIG. 2 INVENTORS.

GEORGE FARNELL. WILLIAM C. MARTIN,JR.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,209,549 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS George Farnell, De Witt, and William C. Martin, Jr., Syracuse, N.Y., assignors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 1, 1963, 'Ser. No. 277,151 6 Claims. '(Cl. 62-77) This invention relates broadly to refrigeration apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to an arrangement for packaging refrigeration machinery whereby certain economies heretofore unrealized. may be obtained.

In refrigeration machines of relatively large capacity, for example, 100 tons and over, the cost of shipping and installing the equipment at the location of use is substantial. For example, a centrifugal refrigeration machine must be transported in many instances via a railroad car to the point of use. The equipment, once it is delivered to the building where it is to be employed, requires field assembly before and during installation of the equipment.

This invention has for its chief object a refrigeration machine of the kind described wherein means are provided enabling certain component assembly work heretofore conducted in the field at the point of installation to be accomplished in the factory where the equipment is fabricated.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of packaging a refrigeration machine of the kind described whereby expensive field assembly work normally necessary in conjunction with the installation of the apparatus is avoided.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a novel packaging method whereby certain components of the machine that are subject to undesirable movement if assembled prior to shipment are secured in such a manner that additional assembly or disassembly at the field installation is avoided.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement for securing certain refrigeration machine components against movement relative to the normally stationary parts of the machine with elements soluble in the presence of the refrigerant, either in the liquid or vapor phase, used by the machine during its normal operation.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a consideration of the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a major part of a refrigeration machine of the kind to which this invention applies; and

FIGURE 2 is a somewhat schematic view of certain of the operating parts of the system visible when the cover illustrated along lines II-II of FIGURE 1 is removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed a centrifugal refrigeration machine having a heat exchanger of the kind to which this invention relates. The heat exchanger includes an evaporator structure in the lower portion and a condenser structure in the upper portion. It will be appreciated that a centrifugal compressor illustrated schematically in FIGURE 1 discharges hot refrigerant into a line (not shown) connecting with the condenser where the refrigerant is liquified and flows through a chamber 14 where it is directed to the evaporator through a float control valve assembly 16. In the evaporator 18, liquid refrigerant boils and is thus converted to gaseous refrigerant which flows via suction line 20 to the compressor in order to complete the refrigeration cycle.

It will be appreciated that the transportation of the heat exchange unit illustrated, with or without the compressor, is diflicult and costly, particularly, when relatively large size units are involved. As an illustration, a heat exchange unit of the kind illustrated when employed in connection with a refrigeration machine having a capacity of 400 tons, would weigh in the vicinity of 20,000 pounds. Normal packaging procedures involve securing the heat exchanger 10 to appropriate skid members where it is transferred via a crane to a railroad fiat car for delivery to a destination where the machine will be used. Under these circumstances, often much of the assembly work, particularly that involving the smaller size components, must be conducted during the installation of the equipment. For example, the float valve assembly illustrated in FIGURE 2 would sustain severe damage if it Were permitted to travel to its destination in the position it normally achieves during operation of the machine. If the elements of the float valve assembly are secured by the packaging material of the kind generally used during shipment, it would be necessary to remove the cover and dislodge the elements of the assembly prior to the use of the machine.

This invention contemplates using resilient members, for securing the movable components of the valve assembly, which are soluble in the presence of the refrigerant used during normal operation of the machine. Removal of the chamber cover 19 at the installation for the purpose of either assembling the float valve assembly or removing conventional component support elements will then be avoided. In accordance with the invention, there is shown a support member 21 formed of a resilient material soluble in the presence of refrigerant. An expanded polystyrene material produced by Armstrong Cork Company under the trademark Resilo-Pax will be suitable under those circumstances where the refrigerant identified as monofluorotrichloromethane and known commercially as refrigerant R-ll, is employed.

A particular feature of the invention involves the configuration of the element which, it is to be noted, is of a hollow tubular shape. In addition, the end shown in contact with the float member 23 of the float valve assembly is provided with an undulating edge so that contact between the float and the support is limited to a number of circumferentially spaced points. This construction enables the member to dissolve more readily in the presence of refrigerant once the machine, after it has been installed, is supplied with the required charge of refrigerant. Any number of the support elements may be used for the purpose of securing the movable parts relative to the stationary machine parts such as the deck or wall of the chamber housing the float valve assembly.

Considering the operation of the invention, the float valve assembly is connected at the factory and secured against relative movements by the use of the support elements described. The heat exchanger is then transported in the manner described above to the point of use. The heat exchanger is then installed, together with the compressor, and the entire assembly supplied with a charge of refrigerant. As described above, when the refrigerant is R-ll, the expanded polystyrene elements 21 will dissolve as they are partially or wholly submerged by the refrigerant rendering the valve assembly free to operate in its intended manner.

While we have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is obvious that other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is therefore, intended that the invention be limited only within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The method of assembling a refrigeration machine having component parts, subject to refrigerant flow, wherein said parts are movable under normal operating conditions relative to the part of the machine housing said component parts, which comprises the steps of:

(a) initially arranging the movable parts within the part housing same; and

(b) securing the movable parts against motion relative to the housing part by wedging same relative to the housing structure with resilient elements soluble in the presence of the refrigerant employed in the machine.

2. The method of assembling a refrigeration machine including a movable float valve assembly arranged within a chamber for regulating flow of refrigerant to the evaporator of the machine which consists in the steps of:

(a) arranging the float valve assembly within the chambers housing same; and

(b) restraining the float valve assembly from movement relative to said chamber structure with elements soluble in the presence of the refrigerant employed in the machine.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 including the step of installing the machine at its place of use and thereafter charging the machine with refrigerant so as to at least partially submerge the restraining elements causing dissolution thereof, rendering the float valve assembly operable for its intended purpose.

4. In a refrigeration machine including a condenser, an evaporator, structure defining a chamber for collecting liquid refrigerant formed in the condenser, a float valve assembly arranged within said chamber for regulating supply of the liquid refrigerant from the chamber to the evaporator, motion restraint means securing the valve assembly against movement, relative to the structure defining the chamber, of the kind encountered during shipment of the machine, said means formed of material soluble in the presence of refrigerant.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein said motion restraint means comprises a member formed of expanded polystyrene.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein said motion restraint means comprises a resilient member engaging the float valve assembly at predetermined areas of contact.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,918 11/33 McIntosh 62298 2,049,790 8/36 Williams 6277 3,059,114 10/62 Haettinger et a1. 6245 3,122,001 2/64 Pritchett et a1. 62126 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A REFRIGERATION MACHINE HAVING COMPONENT PARTS, SUBJECT TO REFRIGERANT FLOW, WHEREIN SAID PARTS ARE MOVABLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS RELATIVE TO THE PART OF THE MACHINE HOUSING SAID COMPONENT PARTS, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: (A) INITIALLY ARRANGING THE MOVABLE PARTS WITHIN THE PART HOUSING SAME; AND (B) SECURING THE MOVABLE PARTS AGAINST MOTION RELATIVE TO THE HOUSING PART BY WEDGING SAME RELATIVE TO THE HOUSING STRUCTURE WITH RESILIENT ELEMENTS SOLUBLE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE REFRIGERANT EMPLOYED IN THE MACHINE. 